Top Five Surprises So Far This Season
We’d like to say that we’re pleasantly surprised by Rudy Fernandez thus far this season, but we’ve known that this kid is the real deal ever since he crowned Dwight Howard in the Olympics. However, there is another international talent who headlines our list of the top five surprises thus far this season:
* Yi Jianlian - Though Christian claims that he “still stinks,” I’ve been really surprised at how Yi has toughened up since coming to New Jersey. He’s already boosted his points and boards per game by three a piece since his days in Milwaukee. Even if last night’s 24-point, 10-board rebound night against Miami was slightly inflated, his production is justifying the Richard Jefferson trade.
* Trades - Before this season was five games old, one of the League’s premiere names was traded. And since then, the team that he went to has gone from undefeated to the edge of .500. It was surprising enough to see Iverson traded. It’s more surprising to see how it’s worked out for both teams since the deal.
* Thaddeus Young - While Andre Iguodala could make this list for just how bad he’s been, Thad has helped keep the Sixers out of last place thus far. Heading into the season, we said that the Sixers would be a legit four seed if they could add someone to stretch the defense beyond the three-point line. Thad’s done that. AI just hasn’t done his part.
* The Atlanta Hawks - Who would have said that the Hawks would have rattled off five straight wins, with Orlando, Philly, Toronto, and New Orleans among the defeated? They’ve gone from the sexy pick to fall flat on their face to one of the toughest defensive teams in the NBA.
* Nene - First of all, Nene has played 34 minutes per game this season. That’s a shock in and of itself. Two years ago, he didn’t make it to 27 minutes per night. During the sixteen games that he played in last year, he didn’t make it to 17 minutes per night. Now, he’s leading the League in field goal percentage (67% FG), and he’s averaging 16.2 points and 9 boards per night. Add in 1.8 blocks per game, 1.3 steals per game, and Nene is more than just a fantasy steal. He’s the best feel-good story in the NBA today.
How crazy is it that he isn’t even on the All-Star ballot?
Honorable Mention: Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, Gerald Green, Danny Granger, Mario Chalmers
November 11th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Ian says:
really not the 1-4 spurs
November 11th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Ashlov says:
Mari-o-ee-o-ee-o!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
heckler...formerly 'yallallreadyknow' says:
after barely 2 weeks of nba games, yall folks are talking all star game ballots already?…THAT is crazy in and of itself.
yi ji should get buckets. how hard is it to score of nj anyway? vince is the leagues biggest ‘has-been’
detroit aint gonna be no worse with iverson; but they aint gonna be no better either. look for 48+ wins
Hawks aint no surprise. they showed signs last year. they just only need to strengthen their bench
sixers need to do a deal for stephen jackson. they need long range shooting and perimeter toughness
the only suprise with Nene is that his balls still work
November 11th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Smitty313 says:
The Spurs are the biggest surprise to me.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Big T says:
Not surprised with the Spurs… no Ginobili. Duncan can only play so many 35+ minute games before he starts to slow down even more. Now that Parker is out for a couple weeks, except them to drop more games. You can blame Pop’s shaggy ass beard.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Damon says:
@heckler
that nene’s balls still work?
sry but that was very bad and weak…
if you cannot be funny than dont try to be…
November 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Ian says:
big t
hehe thanks for that
there was one fool here sayin the spurs without manu would be ok that manu isnt that big a deal.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
that's whats up says:
spurs will win over the knicks tonight….
maybe……… maybe not……….
damn, spurs are f***ed !!!!!!!!!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Timmy D says:
What about the Grizzlies. Every commentator on Earth acted like we would be the worst team ever assembled and that we gave up too much to get OJ. Well I dont really see that now I mean I love Mike Miller but were his old knees and a 6′9 doughboy really too much to get a “veteran” rookie who has given the Grizzlies more leadership in 8 games then Pau Gasol did in almost 8 years.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
rean pogi says:
how about the 5 least surprises..
1.la lakers leading the pack
2.injury to hinrich
3.dallas struggling early.
4.c’s in cruise control yet are 6-1 as of this moment
5.rudy fernandez.
honorable mention: cp3. ai of 76ers. clippers.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Ian says:
rean
number 2 should be injury to oden
thats whats up
if duncan goes down the spurs will set an nba record 1-81
November 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
nerditry says:
1. Miami’s Defensive Scheme getting crazy amounts of steals.
2. Nic Batum!
3. That Z and Ben Wallace aged 10 years in one off season.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Dagomar says:
5, 6 games in there can be no surprises, because there can be no conclusions. Everything that has happened so far can just be a blip. Get back to me in 20 games.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Ansonious says:
@ dime How bout the biggest let downs starting with Rashard Lewis not doing shit, shooting terribly constantly, and not really contributing to a magic team who wouldn’t be doing so bad if he would earn the money he’s making. Honorable Mentions Iguodala, the spurs bench, rumors of Gerald Wallace for Eddy Curry, OKC jerseys etc…
November 11th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
yoda says:
i don’t know how come rudy can be surprise when he played on high level in top euro competition. now, i know you can’t really compare nba and euroleague, but still…
November 11th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
kobeef says:
1. The Iverson-Billups trade. Joe D basically waived the white flag and admitted his team was not getting out of the second round unless something changed…finally.
2. OJ Mayo - everyone expected him to be 3rd or 4th wheel in the ROY race. So far nobody can touch him. Especially Oden. The kid is like Larry Hughes with Ray Allen’s jump shot. That trade of some guy named Kevin for OJ is looking like robbery at this point.
3. NY Knicks are actually plaing pretty well..for the Knicks. Who could imagine they’d have the cajones to do the right thing and mothball Curry and Marbury.
4. Michael Pietrus dunking on everyone. He stil can’t shoot but he is a slashing machine.
November 11th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
McGuffin says:
The hawks are just starting out fast and blindsiding good teams that aren’t prepared for them. Once the season starts rolling and other teams start are getting into their rhythm, I picture them dropping off real fast.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
doc says:
Im suprised we gave Iggy all that money.Im still fucked up about that.Iggy for S-Jack and Belini.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
heckler...formerly 'yallallreadyknow' says:
@ damon (#6)
…if you have no sense of humor, then f*ck off